Title: Phosphorene: Fabrication, properties, and applications

Phosphorene, the single- or few-layer form of black phosphorus, was recently rediscovered as a two-dimensional layered material holding great promise for applications in electronics and optoelectronics. Research into its fundamental properties and device applications has since seen exponential growth. In this Perspective, we review recent progress in phosphorene research, touching upon topics on fabrication, properties, and applications; we also discuss challenges and future research directions. We highlight the intrinsically anisotropic electronic, transport, optoelectronic, thermoelectric, and mechanical properties of phosphorene resulting from its puckered structure in contrast to those of graphene and transition-metal dichalcogenides. The facile fabrication and novel properties of phosphorene have inspired design and demonstration of new nanodevices; however, further progress hinges on resolutions to technical obstructions like surface degradation effects and nonscalable fabrication techniques. We also briefly describe the latest developments of more sophisticated design concepts and implementation schemes that address some of the challenges in phosphorene research. As a result, it is expected that this fascinating material will continue to offer tremendous opportunities for research and development for the foreseeable future.

@article{osti_1332445,
title = {Phosphorene: Fabrication, properties, and applications},
author = {Kou, Liangzhi and Chen, Changfeng and Smith, Sean C.},
abstractNote = {Phosphorene, the single- or few-layer form of black phosphorus, was recently rediscovered as a two-dimensional layered material holding great promise for applications in electronics and optoelectronics. Research into its fundamental properties and device applications has since seen exponential growth. In this Perspective, we review recent progress in phosphorene research, touching upon topics on fabrication, properties, and applications; we also discuss challenges and future research directions. We highlight the intrinsically anisotropic electronic, transport, optoelectronic, thermoelectric, and mechanical properties of phosphorene resulting from its puckered structure in contrast to those of graphene and transition-metal dichalcogenides. The facile fabrication and novel properties of phosphorene have inspired design and demonstration of new nanodevices; however, further progress hinges on resolutions to technical obstructions like surface degradation effects and nonscalable fabrication techniques. We also briefly describe the latest developments of more sophisticated design concepts and implementation schemes that address some of the challenges in phosphorene research. As a result, it is expected that this fascinating material will continue to offer tremendous opportunities for research and development for the foreseeable future.},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jpclett.5b01094},
journal = {Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters},
number = 14,
volume = 6,
place = {United States},
year = {2015},
month = {6}
}

By means of a multi-scale first-principles approach, a description of the local electronic structure of 2D and narrow phosphorene sheets with various types of modifications is presented. Firtly, a rational argument based on the geometry of the pristine and modified P network, and supported by the Wannier functions formalism is introduced to describe a hybridization model of the P atomic orbitals. Ab initio calculations show that non-isoelectronic foreign atoms form quasi-bound states at varying energy levels and create different polarization states depending on the number of valence electrons between P and the doping atom. The quantum transport properties of modifiedmore » phosphorene ribbons are further described with great accuracy. The distortions on the electronic bands induced by the external species lead to strong backscattering effects on the propagating charge carriers. Depending on the energy of the charge carrier and the type of doping, the conduction may range from the diffusive to the localized regime. Interstitial defects at vacant sites lead to homogeneous transport fingerprints across different types of doping atoms. We suggest that the relatively low values of charge mobility reported in experimental measurements may have its origin in the presence of defects.« less

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A review of the synthesis and applications of renewable, biocompatible, and biodegradable hydrogels made from cellulose, chitin, and some of their derivatives indicates increased attention due to their excellent processability, high absorbency, porosity, bioactivity, and abundant active groups.

Graphene nanomeshes (GNMs) with nanoscale periodic or quasi-periodic nanoholes have attracted considerable interest because of unique features such as their open energy band gap, enlarged specific surface area, and high optical transmittance. These features are useful for applications in semiconducting devices, photocatalysis, sensors, and energy-related systems. We report on the facile and scalable preparation of multifunctional micron-scale GNMs with high-density of nanoperforations by catalytic carbon gasification. The catalytic carbon gasification process induces selective decomposition on the graphene adjacent to the metal catalyst, thus forming nanoperforations. Furthermore, the pore size, pore density distribution, and neck size of the GNMs can bemore » controlled by adjusting the size and fraction of the metal oxide on graphene. The fabricated GNM electrodes exhibit superior electrochemical properties for supercapacitor (ultracapacitor) applications, including exceptionally high capacitance (253 F g -1 at 1 A g -1) and high rate capability (212 F g -1 at 100 A g -1) with excellent cycle stability (91% of the initial capacitance after 50 000 charge/discharge cycles). Moreover, the edge-enriched structure of GNMs plays an important role in achieving edge-selected and high-level nitrogen doping.« less

Glancing-angle–deposited thin films are used to fabricate half-wave plates in a 1-D striped geometry, forming alternating regions of linearly polarized light on a single 100-mm-diam substrate. MgO is selected for fabricating the birefringent films for use in vacuum, based on its formation of isolated columns that avoid potential tensile-stress failure of the porous film. While large-area tests have shown high defect densities for fluences <10 J/cm 2, small-spot laser-damage testing has shown resistance to fluences up to 30 J/cm 2 (351-nm, 5-ns pulse). Here, an amorphous silica film is investigated to match the optical thickness in the intermediate regions inmore » an effort to fabricate a polarization-control device to reduce focal-point modulation (“beam smoothing”) in high-intensity laser systems. Ongoing efforts to improve the laser-damage threshold and minimize optical losses caused by scatter are essential to realizing a practical device. Scalability of the process to meter-scale substrates is also explored.« less

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